Bowling Green State University Athletics
Eleventh-Hour BG Heroics Result In 2-2 Tie At EMU
October 13, 2002 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 13, 2002
YPSILANTI, Mich. - Coaches constantly preach about the importance of playing hard every second, and never letting up. The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team practiced what the coaches had preached, and saw that hard work pay off with precious little time to spare.
Freshman Julie Trundle's goal with just six seconds remaining in regulation lifted the Falcons to a 2-2 tie at Eastern Michigan University Sunday afternoon (Oct. 13). The double-overtime Mid-American Conference match was held at Scicluna Field.
The tie moves the Falcons' records to 7-6-2 overall and 5-3-1 in MAC play, while the Eagles are now 6-8-1 and 4-4-1, respectively. BGSU completes the weekend with a win and a tie on the road, having defeated Central Michigan by a 2-0 count on Friday (Oct. 11).
In a match in which it seemed BGSU trainer Sarah Kipp would log as many minutes on the field as any Falcon player, the teams battled through a scoreless first half. But, the Brown and Orange would strike first in the second half.
Freshman Samantha Meister gave BGSU the lead, knocking home a corner kick by classmate Leslie Dawley at the 52:46 mark. The goal was Meister's second in as many matches. Dawley drew the lone assist on the play.
But, the Eagles would equalize less than 10 minutes later. The Falcons were called for a handball in the penalty area, and EMU was awarded a penalty kick. Jessica Hupe converted the PK attempt, tying the score at 61:31.
Hupe, the second-leading scorer in the MAC, would strike again within the next four minutes. The Eagles' Kai Harris came into the box, and BGSU senior goalkeeper Erika Flanders came out to challenge. Both players, plus a Falcon defender, converged on the ball, which caromed to a wide-open Hupe on the other side of the box. She put the loose ball into the empty net, giving the Eagles the lead with just under 25 minutes left.
From that point, EMU goalie Nikki Allen and the Eagle defense turned aside every Falcon threat until the waning seconds. With time running out, freshman Ashley Wentzel lofted a crossing ball from the right side. Trundle, lurking on the left side of the net, headed the ball in stride, putting it past Allen with just six ticks remaining.
Neither team could score in the two overtime periods. The Falcons and Eagles each had 16 shot attempts, with the hosts holding a 10-5 advantage in shots on goal. Flanders made eight saves in net, while Allen had two. The Eagles had one "team save," as an EMU defender headed freshman Britt Anderson's shot off the goal line in the second half.
"I am absolutely delighted with the way we came back," said BG head coach Andy Richards. "Of course, we would have preferred the win, but I am very proud of the way we kept playing until the very end.
"It was a great cross by Ashley, and a great header by Julie, on the tying goal. If there is anyone you would want on the receiving end of a cross like that, it is Julie. She has the talent and the composure to finish the play and get the goal.
"Today's game taught us a valuable lesson about playing the full 90 minutes and never giving up. This was a real see-saw game. We led, then fell behind quickly. Weak teams can't persevere under such conditions, but we did. And, our team hasn't always responded like this in the past.
"I am very pleased with the way the team is performing. We are showing so much resolve right now. We have so much respect for coach (Scott) Hall and Eastern Michigan. Any time we can get any kind of a result against them, we have to be pleased.
"This result sets us up nicely for a chance at a postseason berth. With three (MAC) matches left, we just need to continue to put forth the effort and show the character that we did today."
The Falcons will step outside of MAC play for a Friday (Oct. 18) match against Valparaiso University. That contest will start at 4:00 p.m. at BGSU's Cochrane Field.
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